On the 19th of May i had my stem cell harvest and as traumatic as it was i got through it! The needles were ABSOLUTELY huge - one in my wrist which was AT LEAST 2 inches long and one in the back of my elbow which was probably the width of a pinky finger. I had to have to local anesthetic because they were so big. The doctor who actually put my needles in said most adults flinch when the needles are brought out as well and i didn't so i was proud of myself for that!!!The experience itself wasn't as uncomfortable as i expected despite two needles being stuck out my arms and my dad having to feed me, the four-ish hours passed relatively quickly and i was super thankful for that!!!
This is a picture of the bruise on my wrist a few days after the harvest and it got ALOT bigger and ALOT greener than this!
Also, on the day was the TCU 5th birthday in Newcastle so as a little surprise for the patients they arranged for Ella Henderson (X-factor 2012), who was touring with take that to come in surprise everybody! She was so lovely, we ordered lots of Domino's pizza, drank pop and had a big Teenage Cancer Trust cake for everybody to share! I didn't really get the chance to have a full conversation with her because nurses were pulling me out of the TCU left, right and centre for blood tests and all sorts!
After, meeting Ella and having my harvest nothing particularly interesting happened - until the next on a Saturday.
THE ONLY Saturday where it had been a decent temperature and the sun was shining was when my body decided to plague me with severe neck and back muscle cramps. And obviously that resulted to a trip to A&E where they found that my blood pressure was seriously low (82/45) and my heart rate was running way to fast (118). So the doctors instantly stared me on hydration and antibiotics for a chest infection which they suspected me to have and sent me off for a X-Ray. My blood pressure was so low they would let me stand up just in case i fell over and what can i say i wasn't complaining that i got to be pushed around everywhere on a bed - haha!
Unfortunatley though, they did have to put a cannula (in my wrist - again!!!) to get the medication to me as quickly and as easily as possible - but this nurse wasn't gentle and didn't skimp out on the size of the needles she used!
Whilst in A&E the doctors were still slightly concerned about the pain i was experiencing in my neck and back so they whisked me to Newcastle in an ambulance - for health and safety reasons. I had to go in the Ambulance by myself as well but the paramedic team were lovely and kept me happy whilst travelling up there. That night i had to stay in hospital and although i REALLY wasn't happy about it because i felt fine they insisted on keeping me in - just in case of emergency's. Everything worked out well and i was home by the next morning - which wasn't as sunny as the Saturday and only half as warm :-(.
After, being in hospital my little sister (Jessica) decided to surprise me with a small gift.
Well i looks really big on here...But it was a small chilli plant and two big bars of galaxy chocolate - yum!!!
I also decided to treat myself for when i went into hospital the following Wednesday and i bough myself a little colouring book!
After, i went into hospital on the Wednesday the doctors had managed to get my balance of anti-sickness medication right and i wasn't sick at all during my stay. However, it isn't always this simple as when they checked my blood sugar levels the were super high and they sent me home with a finger pricker - to check my blood glucose levels and needless to say i wasn't happy about it. After a few days my bloods settled down and now everything is back on track!!
Yesterday, the majority of my friends had finished their exams for the summer and to celebrate we all went to Pizza Hut. We had practically every type of pizza on the table, fries, drinks, ice cream and cookie dough desserts!!
